The massive manhunt for former police officer Christopher Jordan Dorner ended Tuesday in a hail of bullets and a wall of flame, as the mountain cabin he’d taken refuge in caught fire after being besieged by police. On Thursday, authorities confirmed that the body recovered from the wreckage was Dorner’s. “The charred human remains located in the burned out cabin in Seven Oaks have been positively identified to be that of Christopher Dorner,” the San Bernardino County Sheriff-Coroner’s Office said in a written statement, according to ABC News. “During the autopsy, positive identification was made through dental examination.”

Dorner is suspected of killing a total of four people, including a Riverside, Calif., police officer, a San Bernardino sheriff’s deputy and the daughter of a former police captain, all part of a one-man war against the Los Angeles Police Department over what he called the force’s “lying, racism” and “cover-ups.” But while Dorner’s rampage is over, his actions could continue to have repercussions — particularly for the LAPD, as his vendetta has stirred up old animosities between the department and the community it serves.

The claims made by Dorner were bold, to say the least: in a rambling, 6,000-word manifesto published on his Facebook page, the former officer complained that he had been discriminated against and effectively driven out of the department after accusing a fellow officer of kicking a suspect in the face. Issues of race and police brutality are particularly sensitive ones in Los Angeles. After all, this is the city where the videotaped police beating of black motorist Rodney King — and the subsequent acquittal of the officers involved — sparked race riots in 1992. The department was also embroiled in a rash of corruption charges and civil rights violations known as the Rampart scandal in the late 1990s and early 2000s; eventually an independent monitor was set up by the LAPD and the federal government to guide and enforce reforms. “The department has not changed since the Rampart and Rodney King days,” Dorner claimed in his manifesto. “It has gotten worse.”

Those words, and the actions that followed, poured salt into wounds that hadn’t completely healed in the black community in L.A., and they have already caused damage to the department’s reputation in the past week, says Connie Rice, a civil rights attorney who has sued the LAPD for misconduct and racial discrimination on behalf of minority officers. The force has a long history of mistreating black officers, Rice claims; it wasn’t until the early 1960s, she says, that it ended the forced segregation of squad cars. Now the Dorner accusations have “revived the ghosts” of the LAPD’s past, she says, adding, “This is on such a massive scale in terms of its impact, I’m quite sure there’s been damage.”

Callers on talk radio popular in the African-American community in Los Angeles have been calling Dorner a hero, even proclaiming he was seeking vengeance for slavery, Rice says. A Facebook page called We Stand With Christopher Dorner has attracted more than 22,000 followers.

Dorner’s supporters seem to have interpreted his manifesto not as the rants of a lunatic but as the plea of a man legitimately upset about racial injustice. “The way he responded to discrimination is not the correct way,” says Donald Tibbs, a law professor at Drexel University who studies race and civil rights. “At the same time, his accusations seem to take us back and remind us of the days of old — maybe they’re not so old.”

In an apparent bid to counter this resentment, LAPD chief Charlie Beck announced on Feb. 9 that he had reopened the department’s investigation into Dorner’s dismissal. “As hard as it has been to change the culture of the Los Angeles Police Department, it has been even more difficult to win and maintain the support of the public,” Beck said. “Therefore, I feel we need to also publicly address Dorner’s allegations.” He took this step not “to appease a murderer,” he added, but “to reassure the public that their police department is transparent and fair in all the things we do.” And even though Dorner has been confirmed dead, the department says it will continue to pursue the investigation.

The inquest is being taken as a signal that despite Dorner’s claims, the department is trying to put its bad old days behind it. Even Rice agrees that the institutional racism that once plagued the LAPD is largely a thing of the past. “The old culture, in which the top command, from the chief all the way down to the lowest officer, condoned and approved of open racism — that LAPD is gone,” she says. Los Angeles now has a “majority of color” police force, Rice notes, that “seeks the trust of the poor black and poor Latino communities.” Ron Ryan, a retired veteran LAPD sergeant who was active during the King era, agrees that the force has come a long way. “They’ve improved in an all-around sense,” he says.

And while the police manhunt for Dorner wasn’t entirely smooth — two innocent bystanders were shot and injured by police after being mistaken for the fugitive ex-cop — at least it was successful. The huge task force assembled was effective in coordinating a multitude of agencies, some of which aren’t usually involved in such operations, says Lieutenant Patrick Foy, spokesman for the Department of Fish and Wildlife. “All these resources we’re putting in help everybody work better together,” says Foy, whose fellow wardens chased Dorner and dodged his gunfire on Tuesday.

The LAPD itself, mired in the Dorner investigation, wasn’t eager to answer questions about the possibility of a tarnished image and didn’t respond to TIME’s queries as of this writing. But in the end, even those who may have sympathized with Dorner’s message likely have little love for his methods. His explicit threats against the families and children of his former colleagues may ultimately garner the LAPD more friends than enemies, says William Deverell, a history professor at the University of Southern California. “The notion of targeting the family members of officers, that’s just so heinous,” Deverell says. “I can’t imagine it wouldn’t help spark some support for officers and families of the institution.”

To all law enforcement as I look back at what Christopher Dorner falsely Accused The LAPD with I think I have found the reason why the crime rate has gone up within less than two years. what we are dealing w/ is a Christopher Dorner Worshipers they are training themselves the same way that he had trained and used the knowlede of the LAPD against them to over throw the LAPD or even worse force the LAPD to become currepted were people would feel unsafe near any police officer I think he may have brain washed half of the LAPD into curruption together we can help the LAPD stop crime by not causing it please try your best to have faith in our Law Enforcement and to work together to help them into believing in themselvesthey're human just like the rest of us let them know that you care by showing a good example for our children and to teach them right and safety skills.and to give them knowlede for the future. we can save our selves from the very evil that is in this world he is known as the father of all lyers his name is Satan let Jesus be your reason for living and doing the right thing trust him for he died for the sin of the world if you read John 3: 16and 17 For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believeth in him shall not parish but have everlasting life, for God sent not his son to condem the world but that the world through him might be saved . Please also read Romans 3: 23 For the wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord. I Love You Jesus Christ My God,my King, my Savior. As for me and my house we will serve the Lord....

I believe the majority of cops are good people. They took the job as that: a job that is respected (at least among 4-year-old children nowadays).

THAT BEING SAID, I feel as though there was undeniably unnecessary brutality.

The cops... Threw a canister, which sparked, burned a house, and burned the man, whose identity for around 16 hours was unknown, inside it. Oh fair trial? Nah, kill him. Crude, I was absolutely astonished at the actions of police and frankly the press's defense.

People, please get the facts. I know some of you are so empty & are looking for a hero, but Dorner was no hero. If LAPD was truly his target, he never murdered an LAPD officer...never got his target. Officer Crain WAS NOT LAPD but worked for the RIVERSIDE PD . Dorner didn't have a conscience and was looking for a scapegoat to fulfill his delusion & rage. It is unbelievable that some in our soceity justify his actions. Find a real modern day hero. How about Mother Theresa, Martin Luther King, Jr, etc. MLK would have NEVER EVER condoned Dorner's actions. Not ever! The couple he murdered was interracial. Here is just some info about each victim:Monica Quan: had a great work ethic & enjoyed life. She was firey & passionate. Known as Coach Mo. Ambushed in her apt complex parking garage. She was 28.Keith Lawrence: Loved basketball but his real passion was to become a police officer. He had proposed to Monica Quan. Ambushed in his apt complex parking garage. He was 27. Michael Crain, Riverside PD, NOT LAPD: Had 10 yr old son & a 4 yr old daughter. He attended his daughter's dance recitals & enjoyed coaching his son's baseball team. He was a former Marine. Dorner opened fire on him. A taxi driver, a hero, watched this evil unfold but swooped in to assist the officer who was still alive. He was 34. Jeremiah MacKay: SBC Sherrif's Deputy: He was 35 & had two children, the youngest being 4 month's old. He was a detective for 15 yrs.

It is true that no one is condoning the killing of family members and that the LAPD will find supporters in regards to that, but what commentators are forgetting is the Christopher Dorner was a soldier and it is just that simple. How many Afghan women and children do you think get caught in the crossfire. Soldiers are trained to kill, not to hesitate and for whatever reason this man thought he was at war with the LAPD. Everyone wants a safe America but does not want to see the true cost of what it takes to manufacture that dream. Not only was he a trained killer but he was also taught to defend the innocent and to stand up for what he thought was right. Something occurred that made this man feel he was at war with the LAPD. His methods were extreme, but that is a soldier. You have to be extreme to do the job. Then you come back home and wonder what was it all for when people don't care. Soldiers are not trained to cope, just look to the amount of suicides happening in our military. It tears away at a soldiers soul to stand idly in the face of corruption. It's true he went over board, but I tell you this much this man was the guy you wanted on your side in a fire fight and don't you forget it.

I think the police force from Los Angeles, have to be investigated. Nobody does what this guy did, without reason, inside your soul. This guy, maybe, was full of reason to perpetrate your rampage. He was fired because he make a testimony, when accused your boss to mistreat a person, with mental problems. The police use force, but, against someone that is mentally ill? Maybe, there is cowards cops in LAPD, that has to be investigated and they has to be fired, too. We get to remember, that the africam americans, are not welcomed in LAPD. Remember the hell that LA got in, after the killer of a african american, some year ago, by the cops. Maybe the Cops from LAPD, still are racists in a country where more then 50% are from others colours, then white. Come on President Obama, says something about that....

It's interesting that the person who wrote this story didn't include facts about why he was fired. Perhaps he was an arrogant jerk who didn't like it that a female sgt didn't believe he was fit to be an officer. According to other stoires I've read, she intended to tell him that she was going to give him unsatisfactory on his eval. A few weeks later he suddenly "remembers & left out" part of what happened with the mentally ill man. We all know what he is capable of doing with his "perceived" injustice. There isn't any proof that he was telling the truth so now we have a few fringe folks who are going to believe him. What would you say to the victims' families? Would you tell them how much you love Dorner & consider him a hero? There are some really odd, strange people out there. This event sure brings them out. Fact: Christopher Dorner was a cowardly, cold blooded murderer & nothing less. A hero who ambushes unsuspecting victims, who had nothing to do with his job loss, if that is your definintion of a hero then you need help.

There is no justifying his actions but these were the actions of a broken man. Whole healthy people do not do such things. So how is a man broken to the point of being a monster? It can only be done with abuse. He killed but he was also a victim and those who victimized him are also responsible for his victims. Abuse, bullying, bigotry, discrimination, racism have no place anywhere in society. The idea that it happens in the police force is shocking and unacceptable. If the police can do it to each other then how do they treat the general public? The answer is very badly. And the greatest weapon they have for discriminating against people of color is prohibition. Many laws are used to discriminate against people who the police encounter in the street but none are more widely and uniformly practiced and with such vigor as the laws regarding drug possession. From London to New York People of color or obviously lower economic means are stopped and told to turn out there pockets and on the basis of what is found lives are set on a course of poverty, humiliation and eternal loss of sovereignty. Until we deal with prohibition there will be no change in the degree of corruption and abuse of power that exists at all levels of power in all communities everywhere. End the drug war.

USA is so advanced, compared to Australia. In Australia, only token-colored-persons are allowed into the governmentś military & paramilias (law, police, coorrections, secret-police forces). Iḿ speaking as a volunteer army officer, who was forced into imprisonment as the only option to serve the Australian governments.

I think the writer -- and William Deverell -- went out on a limb when they went so far as to say "His explicit threats against the families and children of his former colleagues may ultimately garner the LAPD more friends than enemies."

I think Time's coverage has been shallow on this story. Here's an idea: why not pay for a poll to see what Americans really think of what happened in LA?

Conduct a formal investigation with the FBI regarding the recent actions that the LAPD took against Christopher Dorner.

Christopher Dorner, although an alleged criminal, was not given due process in the court of law which is guaranteed to all United States citizens under the U.S Constitution. The actions taken by the LAPD represent a clear detachment from what is right and morally acceptable. Functions that should be practiced consistently when it comes to U.S citizens regardless of the circumstance. We petition the Obama Administration to conduct a formal investigation of the recent events incited by the L.A Police Department in Southern California, and to use the fullest extent of Government resources to come to a clear and concise reasoning behind the shooting of innocent civilians, burning of private property, and the ultimate denial of basic constitutional rights to Christopher Dorner.

Christopher Dorner was denied a fair
trial by judge Yafee. Judge Yafee accepted over $500,000.00 in payments
from Los Angeles County. Dorner never had a chance in court against the
Los Angeles police department.

SECTION 5 of SENATE BILL SBX211This
bill would provide that no governmental entity, or officer or employee
of a governmental entity, shall incur any liability or be subject to
prosecution or disciplinary action because of benefits provided to a
judge under the official action of a governmental entity prior to the
effective date of this bill on the ground that those benefits were not
authorized under law.

HISTORY OF RETRO ACTIVE IMMUNITY IN THE UNITED STATES1. given for illegal merger of banks (we can see the effects of that now) 19652. given for unconstitutional use of torture 20083. given to telecom company for illegal wire taps. 2008 (Fisa bill)4. given to Judges for taking bribes. (SBX211) 2009

SBX211
Retro Active Immunity given to California judges for openly taking
bribes. Judges are employees of the State they receive their pay and
benefits from the State. The Los Angeles Superior court judges are
currently receiving an additional $57.688,00 from the county of Los
Angeles. there is no bigger user of the court than L.A. County.(A party
to the case and has a financial interest in most cases in the courts)
Those payments were found to be unconstitutional / illegal in Sturgeon
vs Los angeles County. After that decision the judges paid a lobbyist to
pass SBX211 ( RETRO ACTIVE IMMUNITY )

SBX211 does not restore due processSBX211 violates Article 1 section 9SBX211 violates the 14th amendment (no equal protections)SBX211 violate checks and balances between legislative and Judicial powers.Judges
do not disclose the county payments at the onset of any trial where the
county is either a party to the case or has a financial interest.
(Judges violate Judicial codes of ethics)Judges refuse to recuse themselves when requested under CCP170.Judges find themselves unbiased and then file an order striking statement.Changing the California Constitution requires a vote of the people and SBX211 was never put up for vote.

Not
only do judges get paid a state salary of $178,789.00 a year with
medical and retirement benefits up to 75% of their salary, with the
county payments the Los Angeles Superior court judges are the highest
paid judges in the Nation. Los Angeles County takes tax payer money and
then gives the judges that money to only have the judges rule against
the tax payer in favor of L.A. County or the County's interest. THE
BRIBES WORK.

Robert Kennedy tried to stop this congressional travesty back in 1965.Quote:
The very idea of retroactive immunity for lawbreaking corporations is
so radical, so repugnant to the most basic principles of the rule of
law.

Dorner lost any chance of legitimacy when he started targeting innocent people. Even if evidence eventually proves that the LAPD is wildly corrupt and that he was wrongfully terminated, he will still just be an A$%hole who murdered innocent people to make a point.

Interesting that the LAPD wasn't so bad while he was getting a pay check from them.

THE LAPD needs to be SWEPT CLEAN. This is just DISGUSTING after the riots and beating of Rodney King more than 20 years ago. The American public TRUSTED that this issue was dealt with twenty years ago, but those responsible WERE INDEED promoted to positions of authority, ARE INDEED responsible for creating a HOSTILE, RACIST WORK ENVIRONMENT which resulted in the Christopher Dorner tragedy. YES, PL

EASE list Mr. Dorner's name among the list of victims that the LAPD is directly responsible for!!!! This is SHAMEFUL, DISGUSTING, and IRRESPONSIBLE. For the actions and behavior of this police force.... I do not have one ounce of pity for them. I feel sorry for the countless victims of this backwards, ignorant, and apparently uneducated police force.

So the LAPD is investigating his firing, are we supposed to expect that if they were in the wrong they will come and say that they caused this whole mess? I don't think so, whether right or wrong they will find themselves innocent, as will any self governing body.

rivtrvir, please read his manifesto. Doner was over-qualified going to college and serving in the military reserve as a police officer. Even in a stressful state of mind, he wrote clear and concise defending his case with specifics, point by point. Its terrible that he had to killed innocent individuals to make his point of the injustice of our court system. Maybe something will get done now. And Yes, he passed his probation.

Lunatic shot himself in the head and chose not to come out when the place started on fire. Sounds like a personal choice to me. If you an ex tactical military or swat member who knows terminology good for you. The burners should be used more often to encourage surrender. I was hoping capture, trial, and lethal injection but Dorner wasn't enough of a man to face that. He deserved a shoot on site order for killing innocent people to include first degree murders of the couple in Irvine.

He didn't even pass his probation because he was weird, slow, etc. They can dump you without cause for any reason. A boot in the back of a detainee is a step up from the Rodney King beating (although I thought he deserved 50 percent of what he got). The allegations of a disgruntled employee who couldn't cut it, who obviously had issues, are highly questionable.

Mr. Aaron Brown below could not had said it any better. We live in a Capitalist rather than a Social Justice System where without Capital / Money and I mean Hundred's of thousands of dollars Justice is Defer. How? Police department appointed Cop lawyers in Dorner's case and Family Court appointed Lawyers for the poor. These lawyers as Dorner explains in his Manifest do not represent you. They represent & protect their Institution. I know, I am a 54 yo M.D whose career was ruin and who has spend the last 7 yrs in the family court system of NYC, without a trial, trying to get overnight visitation with my children.

The police in California, LAPD and San Bernardino PD, chose to murder a suspect, burn him alive, they planned it in advance, premeditated murder, on camera for everyone to see. Will they be held accountable? The only thing on the line is the credibility of our justice system and the future of our society.

Read the entire manifesto, This was a Noble,Idealistic individual who worked for a racist corrupt Police force. Any other police force he would had become Captain. A force that completely destroy his life while the Law of Justice was suppressed. Sometimes good man are wrongly terribly punished to paraphrase his mother.

This article is biased. You call his manifesto "ramblings of a lunatic" apparently you have not read it. "two innocent bystanders were shot and injured by police after being mistaken for the fugitive ex-cop — it was at least successful." what the hell are you saying? There's no reason for trained police to shoot innocents.

What's next? Hopefully THEY get burned out with lawsuits for murdering a criminal without a trial... when the taxpayers pay through the nose as the result of illegal police actions - only THEN will heads roll in the agency.... may Dorner's relatives all get richer than Bill Gates off of this!